Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is the Irish state's flagship award for non-EU students — funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Awards pay €10,000 for one year of study (any level — Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD) plus a full tuition fee waiver at the host institution. Approximately 60 awards are issued per cycle across all Irish universities and IoTs (Institutes of Technology). Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. Ireland is the only English-speaking EU country post-Brexit and offers a generous 2-year Stay Back visa for non-EU Master's graduates — combined this makes the package one of the most attractive in Europe for Sri Lankan applicants.
2026/27 cycle: applications typically open in early February 2026 with a late March 2026 deadline for September 2026 entry
Higher Education Authority of Ireland
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Stipend
€10,000 (One Year Only)
Tuition
Full Fee Waiver
Annual Awards
~60 Across All Levels
info How this award actually works
This is a separate, highly competitive application
Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.
Who awards it
Higher Education Authority of Ireland — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.
What it covers
€10,000 One-Year Stipend + Full Tuition Fee Waiver. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.
Where we come in
We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Non-EU/EEA Citizen
Reserved for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens applying from outside the EU. Sri Lankan passport holders applying from Sri Lanka qualify automatically.
Admitted to an Eligible Irish Institution
You must hold (or be applying for) admission to a full-time Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD programme at an Irish university, IoT, or specialist higher education college. All HEA-funded institutions participate.
Strong Academic Profile
Selection is highly competitive — typically a first-class or equivalent undergraduate degree, strong references, and a compelling personal/career statement. Approximately 1,500-2,000 applications are received for ~60 awards each cycle.
English Proficiency
Programme-specific — typically IELTS 6.5+ overall with no band below 6.0 for taught programmes; 7.0 for some humanities or law programmes. Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium Bachelor's degrees can often request a waiver from the host institution.
account_tree Application Process
Secure or apply for Irish admission
Apply to your target Irish institution via its admissions portal. You can apply for the scholarship in parallel with (or after) admission — but you must hold an admission offer to take up the award. Apply early to give yourself the best chance.
Submit the HEA application
Apply via the HEA scholarship portal when the call opens (typically February). Submit: completed application form, CV, motivation statement, transcripts, English language certificate, and two references.
Institutional + HEA selection
Applications are first screened by the proposed host institution, then submitted to a national HEA panel for final ranking. Selection completes by May for September starts.
Award + study start
Successful awardees receive €10,000 in two instalments and the tuition waiver is automatically applied. The award is for one year only — Master's recipients use it for year 1; PhD recipients for year 1 (further-year funding via host institution / SFI Scholarships).
Why Ireland?
Ireland is the only remaining English-speaking country in the EU, and post-Brexit has become a strategic alternative to UK postgraduate study with full EU work rights. The 2-year Third Level Graduate Programme (Stay Back) visa for non-EU Master's graduates is among the most generous in Europe. Strong tech sector (Google, Meta, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Stripe) actively hires international graduates.
2 yrs
Stay Back Visa for Master's
5
Universities in QS Top 300
EU
Full Post-Study EU Work Rights
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat Ireland actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for Ireland, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
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Dublin Business School (DBS)
Griffith Global Excellence Scholarship
Griffith College Dublin